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Loose and lively

Part 3 Liz Chaderton completes her series on how to paint animals in watercolour with this portrait of a cat step by step

Part 3 Liz Chaderton

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

■ Put into practice the exercises from the past two articles

■ Learn to plan your painting

■ Practise loose and lively brushstrokes in watercolour

Your reference photograph for this project

Two months ago we discovered that painting loose in watercolour takes forethought and its success is often about simplification – what we leave out is as important as what we include. Last month we explored controlling the water to help colours mix in exciting ways on the paper. At last we are ready to paint a full portrait. Let’s choose a cat – I love them for their marble-like eyes and their whiskers. I love the patterns they make. I really want to capture those elements in this painting; everything else is irrelevant.

About Leisure Painter

Welcome to the October issue of Leisure Painter (now 80 pages PLUS this month's 16-page art courses and holidays supplement). Aimed at beginners, less-experienced amateurs and hobby painters, LP is the best-selling practical art magazine in the UK. Inside you'll find practical advice, exercises and demonstrations on how to paint with watercolour, acrylics, acrylic inks, oils, pastels and drawing media, as well as tackling mixed-media approaches. With everything from adding figures to your beach scenes to gardens, flowers, animals, still lifes and landscapes, we aim to fill your painting hours. There's even a challenge to complete a miniature medieval initial letter in gold this month. Then sit back and view the award-winners of this year's Leisure Painter Open Competition, and read news on exhibitions, diary events, art club activities, the latest practical art books and our online home, PaintersOnline. The final 16 pages of this month's issue will help you plan your next art course. Enjoy the issue!